Air-compressor



(No Model.)

J. B. WARING.

AIR GOMPRESSOR.

r* 10.254,851. Patented lvm.14.1882.V

.nlllllllll lili UNITED STATES PATENT OEEI'cE.

JOHN E. WARING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNOE OE ONEI'IALE TO MILAN O.EULLOOK, OE OHIOAGO, ILLINOIS.

AIR-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,851, dated March14, 1882.

Application tiled May 21, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. WAEING, ot the city and county of New York,in the State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Air-Compressors and in Valves Therefor, and for otherpurposes, of which the following is a specification.

In air-compressors as usually constructed, in which the air is drawninto a cylinder by 1o one stroke of the piston and expelled into thereservoir or receiver by the return-stroke of the piston, muchdifficulty is experienced in working` a compressor smoothly and withoutshock, owin g to the variable resistance offered to the piston duringits stroke. The resistance at the beginning of the stroke, withoutconsidering that due to friction, is nothing, and the resistancegradually increases as the piston travels, and reaches its maximum atthe 2o end of the stroke. Another serious difficulty is the large amountof Waste space or clearance in the valve ports and openings of thecompressor-cylinder, which are filled with compressed air at eachstroke, that expands during the return-stroke and partly fills thecylinder The object ot' my invention is to overcome these difculties andto producen. compressor which shall be very compact and ot' compara- 3otively light weight.

To this end my invention consists in the combination, in anair-compressor, of a stationary outer cylinder, a movable cylinder' ofsmaller diameter arranged therein, piston- 5 5 heads ttin g said Outercylinder and movable with said inner cylinder, a stationary piston forVsaid inner cylinder, and valves for admitting air to each end ot' saidouter cylinder for passing air from said outer to said inner cylin- 40.der, and for discharging air from saidinner cylinder, whereby the air,which is partially compressed in passing from the outer to the innercylinder, is stillfurther compressed in said inner cylinder. The outercylinder is constructed with a waterjacket, as is usual in air-compressors, and the space between the Outer and inner cylinders andbetween the movable piston-heads, is preferably lled with water, whichServes to cool the inner and outer cylinders.

5o The water used for cooling passes first into the space between thecylinders, and thence into and through the jacket of the outer cylinder.The discharge-valves for the inner cylinder are preferably arrangedwithin the stationary piston of said inner cylinder, and the piston-rodto which said piston is attached may consist ofa tube and serve as adischarge-pipe, through which the compressed air passes directly to thereservoir or receiver.

My invention further consists in a novel ar- 6o rangement Ot' valve andvalve-Openings for aircompressors and for other pumps or engines, and invarious details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafterto be described.

The accompanying drawings represents only the air-cylinders andappurtenances ot1 a compressor, my invention being adapted for use Withany suitable operating mechanism.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a longitudinal section of thecompressor. Fig. 2 7o represents a longitudinal section of the xedpiston and a portion of the movable cylinder upon a larger scale, andFig. 3 represents a perspective sectional view of one of my im*- provedvalves. l

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in thefigures.

A designates a stationary cylinder, which is provided with suitableheads, A A2, and with a surrounding water-jacket, A3. The cylinder 8o Amay be attached to any suitable bed-plate or support, and may bearranged horizontally, as here shown, or vertically.

B designates av smaller cylinder, arranged within the outer cylinder, A,and of inuch less length than the latter. The diameter of the cylinderB, as here represented, is about halfl that of the cylinder A, and itsarea is consequently one-fourth; but the relative propor tion Ot' thetwo cylinders may be varied to suit 9o circumstances. The cylinder B isconstructed with atlange, c, ateach end. And C designates piston-heads,which are rigidly attached one to each end of the cylinder by means ofbolts b, inserted through the heads and the ilanges a, or in any othersuitable manner, and which are movable with said inner cylinder. The

piston-heads C are provided with suitable packing, so as to workair-tight in the outer cylinder, A, and the inner cylinder andpiston-heads roo inat'ter described.

constitute in fact a single piston, which is adapted to be reciproeatedin the outer cylinder, A, by power applied to the piston-rod D, whichworks through a suitable stuffing-box, D', in the head A.

E designates a piston fitted to the inner cylinder, B, and provided withsuitable packing. This piston is fixed to the end of a piston-rod, F,which passes through a stufting-box, A4, in the head A2 and is rigidlysecured at its outer end in a cross-head, G, which may he permanentlyconnected with the cylinder A by rods H, or other means.

The piston-rod F may be and preferably is composed ot' a tube or pipefor a purpose here- It will he observed that by its rigid connectionwith thecross-head G the piston E always occupies the same positionrelatively to the outer cylinder, A, and both are stationary.

Inasmuch as theinner cylinder, B, is used as a compression-cylinder, it,as well as the outer cylinder, should be provided with means to preventits heating, and to eii'ect this I fill the annular space I between theinner and outer cylinders and. between the two piston-heads C withwater, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The water in the space I not onlycools the inner cylinder, but as the inner cylinder and its attachedpistons reciprocate the water comes in contact with the inner surface ofthe outer cylinder and cools the latter. The space I andv the jacket A3may each have independent inlets and outlets for water, but I prefer tosupply the water rst to the space I, and thence to the jacket A3, asillustrated in the present example of my invention.

lI designates a water-inlet leading through thejacket A3 and to thespace I; and, after circulating around the inner cylinder, B, the waterpasses througha hole or aperture, c, into thejacket A3, fromwhenceitpassesout through the discharge-apertures d.

The valves which are employed for admitting air to the outer cylinder,A, for controlling the passage of air from the outer cylinder, A, to theinner cylinder, B, and for dischargevalves to the said inner cylinder,may be of any desirable construction; but I preferably employ valves ofthe kinds here represented.

Referring irst to the inlet-valves for the outer cylinder, A, ddesignates an annular groove or channel, which is made in each of theheads A A2, and which communicates by means of numerous holes orapertures, e, with the atmosphere.

J designates a valve, consisting of a circular disk of thin sheet metal,constructed with annular corrugations to give it sufficient flexibility,and having a central hole or aperture to slip over the piston-rod. Oneof these disks is secured to the inner side of each of the heads A A2,as a valveseat, by means of a collar or flange, f, and its outer roundedor turned-over edge just overlaps the annular groove or channel d', theinside of the head being provided with a conical or tapered seat,g,therefor, composed of a flange or lip having an inclined or taperedinner edge. This form of valve is very desirable,inasmuch as a singlevalve takes the place of a number of the small valves heretofore used,thus lessening the cost of construction, and because the valves are solight'that when running at a high speed there is little or no shock fromtheir closing. It will likewise be observed that the piston-heads C workup close to the valves, and that there are no waste spaces to till withcompressed air at each stroke and lessen the efficiency of thecompressor by subsequent expansion.

The valves controlling the passage of air from the outer cylinder aresubstantially the saine as thosejust described.

Each piston-head C is constructed with an annular groove or channel, 7L,in its inner side, which communicates with the outer cylinder by holesor apertures i.

The valvesK are made of corrugated metal,

similar to the valves J, just described, and differ only from them inthat they are secured at the outer edge by being clamped between theflanges a ofthe cylindevB and the pistouheads C, instead ot' beingclamped around the central opening, like the valves J. Though the valvesJ and K are only here shown in connection with an air-compressor, they,or similar valves, are suitable l'or pumps ot' various kinds.

L (see gig. 2) designates valves vthrough which air is discharged fromthe cylinder B, and which are contained in the piston E and kept closedby means of springs j, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. These valvesopen in opposite directions and control the passage of air through portsor passages in opposite sides of the piston. From the right hand ot' thepiston air passes through Vabre-openings k, thence to a cavity, l, inthe piston, and out through the hollow piston-rod F to the air reservoiror receiver. From the left hand of the piston the air passesthrouglrvalve-openings k, and thence through apertures or ports m to thehollow piston-rod F. To prevent any compressed air from leaking throughthe opening in the piston-head C around the rod F, I surround said rodby a pipe or tube, F', which is rigidly secured in the piston-head, andis provided at its outer end with a stuiiing-box, F2, and in order toprevent any leakage from the cylinder' B to the atmosphere I place anannular packing, a, between the cross-head G and a nut, F3, which aidsin securing the piston-rod F in the said cross-head.

Though the compressor is here shown as at about the middle ot' itsstroke, and not in operation, the valves all being closed, its operationcan be readily understood. If we suppose, for instance, that motion beimparted to the movable inner cylinder, B, and the pistonheads O in adirection toward the right hand of the drawings, as indicated by thearrow on the piston-rod, the inlet-valve J at the left- IOO IIO

IIS

hand end of the outer stationary cylinder will be opened, drawing in afresh supply of air, while the valve K in the right-handV pistonhead Owill be opened and the supply of air in the' right-hand end of the outercylinder, A, forced through said valve into the right-hand end of theinner cylinder. At the same time the air which has been forced into thelefthand end of theinner cylinder by the last preceding stroke is forcedthrough the valves in the stationary piston, and out through the hollow`piston-rod F.

It will be observed that` instead of the resistance upon the movableinner cylinder and piston-heads being nothing at the beginning of thestroke, as in common air-compressors, the resistance is equal to thepressure of partial] y-com pressed air con tained in the movable innercylinder upon one side ot' the stationary piston B.

By myinvention I prodncean aircompressor ot' very simple andcompactconstruction and light weight, and one which may be advantageously usedfor compressing Aair to heavy pressures. 1

What l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. The combination, in an air-compressor, oi' a stationary outercylinder, a movable inner cylinder, piston-heads fitting said outercylin der and movable with said inner cylinder, a stationary pistontting said inner cylinder, and the several valves, substantially asdescribed, for admitting air to each end of the outer cylinder forcontrolling the passage of air from the outer to the inner cylinder andfor the discharge ot air from the inner cylinder, substantially as andfor the purpose specilied.

2. The combination, in an air-compressor, of a stationary outercylinder, a movable inner cylinder, piston-heads iitting said outercylinder and movable with said inner cylinder, a stationary pistonfitting said inner cylinder, inlet-valves for the outer cylinder, valvescontrolling the passage of air from the outer to the inner cylinder,discharge-valves for the inner cylinder arranged in the stationary piston, and a hollow7 piston-rod, to which said piston is attached, andwhich serves as a discharge-pipe, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

3. The combination, in an air-compressor, of a stationary outercylinder, a movable inner cylinder and pistonheads, valves for theproper operation of said cylinders, a stationary piscylinderand fittingsaid outer cylinder, valves for the proper operation of the cylindersand pistons, a water-inlet passage leading to the annular space betweenthe outer and inner cylinders and between the movable piston-heads, anda Water-outlet from said space, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

5. The combination, in an air-compressor, of

la stationary outer cylinder constructed with a surroundingjacket, amovable inner cylinder and piston-heads, a stationary piston fittingsaid inner cylinder, valves for the proper operation of said cylindersand pistons, a waterinlet passage leading to the annular space betweenthe inner and outer cylinders and between the movable piston-heads, aport or aperture leading from said annular space to tho jacketsurrounding the outer cylinder, and a water outlet or outlets from saidjacket, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination, with a valve opening or openings in a valve-seat, ofa valve composed of a circular disk of corrugated spring metal having acentral opening and means for securing it in place at one edge,substantially as specified.

7. The combination, with a valve-seat having in it an annular groove orchannel and openings communicating therewith,ot` a valve composed ot'acircular disk ot corrugated spring metal secured to the seat near itscenter and overlapping said annular groove or channel, substantially asspecified.

8. The combination, with a valve-seat in which is an opening oropenings, and which is constructed with a projecting annular lip ortlange having an inclined inner surface forming a conical or taper seat,of a valve composed of a circular disk of corrugated spring metal4overlappingsaid opening oropeniugs and bearing against the taper orconical seat, substantially as specified.

J. B. WARING.

Witn esses T. J. KEANE, CHANDLER HALL.

IOO

